TLDR:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to make its way into the legal system, and its use has both positive and negative implications.
- Some law firms are using generative AI for tasks such as summarizing documents, creating transcripts, and performing legal research, which can improve productivity and potentially reduce costs for clients.
However, there are concerns about the accuracy of AI-generated text, as some lawyers have faced sanctions for including fake citations created by an AI chatbot in court filings.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has proposed rules requiring litigants to certify that any AI-generated text has been reviewed for accuracy, and professional law organizations have issued similar guidance.
AI also presents challenges related to confidentiality and the potential for bias in the data used to train AI models.
While some view AI as a tool that can democratize law and increase access to legal services, others are concerned that it could have negative consequences for marginalized populations.
The American Bar Association has even raised the possibility of AI serving as judges to provide quick resolutions for those who need to move on.